Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch
Native aquatic plants are an essential part of lake ecosystems, however, sometimes a lake is invaded by an aggressive aquatic plant species that is not native to Michigan. These invasive plants can be extremely disruptive to a lake and our recreational activities.
Finding aquatic invasive plants before they become established in a lake is essential to effective management. The Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch (EAPW) is an early detection monitoring protocol for troublesome exotic aquatic plants that might end up in your lake. Check out our Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch fact sheet to learn more.
Volunteers enrolled in the EAPW learn how to identify aquatic invasive plants and their common native look-alikes. Volunteers will need a canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or motor boat.
Details
Cost to enroll: $30/ year
Enrollment deadline: August 31, 2025
Equipment requirements: A sampling rake (built by the volunteer, sampling rake assembly instructions can be found here)
Time commitment: Volunteers monitor at least once between June and September.
Training requirement: Training for this parameter is optional, but recommended. See training events here and watch the recorded EAPW training videos below.
How do I monitor for aquatic invasive plants?
2025 Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch Data Form (and example completed data form)
Exotic Aquatic Plant Watch Recorded Training Presentation (2024)
Visit the Training Page for in-person and virtual training events
Become A Volunteer!
Join us! Learn more on how to become a volunteer and join the hundreds of volunteers collecting water quality and habitat data on Michigan's 11,000 inland lakes.
Enroll Today!